Baler mechanism



Feb. 21, 1950 w. VUTZ ET AL BALER MECHANISM 3 Sheets$heet 1 Filed July 17, 1944 I VENTORS.

Feb.2l, 1950 W. VUTZ ET AL BALER MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1.944

mmvroks. kzz a BY Feb. 21, 1950 w. VUTZ ET AL 2,498,319

BALER MECHANISM Filed July 17, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 21 1950 BALER MECHANISM Wilhelm Vutz and Leo H. Bruggeman, Goldwater, Ohio, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Avco Manufacturing Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application July 17, 1944, Serial No. 545,295

11 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to apparatus for baling hay and the like and is directed to the form of baler disclosed in the co-pending application, Serial No. 541,735, filed by Wilhelm Vutz. While various features of the invention are applicable to balers in general, the invention is being initially embodied'with special advantages in a windrow pick-up baler. For the purpose of the present'disclosure, we elect to describe a pick-up baler of the swinging plunger type, such disclosure affording adequate guidance for those skilled in the art having occasion to apply underlying principles to other specific types of balers.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a novel automatic tying mechanism that does not require a pause in the operation of the baling plunger or any special expedient to keep the material under pressure until the tying operation is completed. In general, this object is obtained by providing a clutch for the tying mechanism that is controlled by a metering means through a trip arrangement, automatic means being provided to reset the arrangement. In the preferred practice of our invention, the trip mechanism is actuated through the medium of an overrunning clutch that is effective at spaced points in the operation of the metering means, these pointsbeing adjustable in spacing for producing bales of various sizes as may be desired.

ihe above and other objects of our invention will be apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, which show a preferred form of the invention by way of suggestion and illusq tration only,

Fig. l is a plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation with parts broken away, the view showing certain mechanism in alternative position;

Fig, 4 is a transverse section taken as indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, certain parts being omitted for simplicity;

Fig. 5 is an exploded view in perspective of means for automatic actuation of the bale-tying mechanism; and 1 Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the swinging plunger, viewed as indicated by the arrow 6 in Fig. 3.

General arrangement The baler shown in the drawings is provided with a hitch In for attachment to a tractor or other draft means and is supported by a. Dair of chamber 2 side Wheels II and may have a pair of front wheels E2 or other weight gauging means. The principal parts of the general combination include a baling chamber, generally designated [5, a plunger head, generally designated l6, mounted on a pivoted reciprocating support means ll, an accumulation space or receptacle H8 in front of the baling chamber, a pick-up means 20 adapted to cooperate with an upper conveyor means 2! to deliver material to the accumulation receptacle, a periodically effective conveyor means 22 to move material from the accumulation receptacle into the path of the plunger head it in timed relation to the plunger head operation, a bale-tying mechanism including a pair vof needles 23 mounted below the baling chamber, a pair of knotter means 25 mounted above the baling chamber, and a metering means, generally designated 26, for controlling the operation of the needles and the knotter means in response to movement of compressed material in the baling chamber.

The arrangement for forming bales The baling chamber l5, which is of rectangular cross section configuration, is open at both ends so that material may be forced in at the front end by the plunger head it and may escape in the form of finished bales at the rear end. The side and top walls of the baling chamber form a curved receiving end 21 with curved slots 28 in the sides, the receiving end and the two slots 1 having in common an axis of curvature located The plunger head it which is dimensioned to t into the curved receiving end 21 of the baling chamber is mounted on the swinging support I! by side connections positioned to extend through the two curved slots 28. In the preferred practice of our invention, thesupport means ll comprises a pair of arms 3|, one on each side of the 'baling [5, the two arms being rotatably mounted on an upper cross shaft 32 extending along the axis 36.

For actuation of the plunger head IS a connecting rod 33 may connect each of the two arms with a crank pin 35 on a large crank gear 36, the two gears '36 on the opposite sides of the machine being keyed to a common cross shaft 31.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the two arms 3! may be interconnected at their lower ends by a. cross member 38 positioned to extend through the two curved slots 28, the cross member being a structural part of the plunger head IS. The plunger head includes a plurality of spaced vertical longitudinal plates 40 and a bottom plate when the plunger head is in the region of the needle movement.

An important feature of the described plunger head is the manner in which it permitstheescape of displaced air and yet iseffective in compressing material into the baling chamber." In-theabsence of any special provisions for air release, the displaced air which is'heayilysladened'. with dust and fine particles will escape in numerous directions around the edge of the advancing plunger head, the result being unnecessary dispersal of dust -and excessive deposition ofddust on such workingparts as the 'knotter. mechanism above the -baling =chamber. As best shown in Fig. 6, the spaced longitudinal plates muform -numerous ample air vent passages' 48above the I pressure plate 43, these air ventpassagesdirecting the dust-laden airawayfrom all adjacent mechanism. 1

' Material. feeding means The side Walls of'thecurved receiving end of thebal-ing chamber were continued as side walls ...=.5il..for the accumulation receptacle l8." Thebottom' of the accumulation receptacle is part of a v.2. material-supporting wall 51 that extends'forward from the ,baling chamber [5 and is curved to form a forward pick-up nose. 52 of curved .con-

xfiguration; :Mounted inside the nose 52 is asrotary pick up'assemblyl- 53 having .radialtines or conveyor projections 55for extension throughlongitudinaluslots. 56 in the pickeup'nose 5 2, the nose and the rotary assembly comprising the pick-up means 20. The pick-up nose 52 is curved eccentrically relative to the axis of the rotarypick-up assembly so that the tines: 55 extend downward and forward through the pickup nose to engage and liftthe material to be baled but retreat to -within the nose as they move rearwardly from their uppermost positions.

The upper conveyor means .2] comprises a rotary cylinder '5'! inside of which is mounted a rotary assembly- 53 eccentrically :thereto.' :.'EX tending radially outwardly from the rotary. as sembly 523v is a plurality of conveyor projections or prongs 6G adapted to retractably extend through the corresponding short peripheralqslots i 61 in the cylinder 5?, the eccentric relationship being such that .sthe prongs 'areextended tothe maximum duringthe lower halves ortheirrotary paths and are'completely retracted inside the cylinder 5] during;therupperthalves oiztheincir- :cular paths.

It will be noted that the upperconveyor; means 2.! is set'slightly rearwardly of the pick-up means 7:28 so that the upper conveyor; meanszimeffect receives the material released by the" pick-up means and'propelsvthe material rearwardtowards the. center of the accumulation receptacle: l8. :1; In effect, the upper conveyormeans 2! serves as awall of the accumulationreceptaclei lllzandcoa op'erates with :the. pick-up means;2llstoptformgthe entrance to thereceiving receptacle.

The conveyor. meansi22z'for periodically. :shift- .ingumateirialnironl the accumulation receptacle :13 towards thebaling chamber. lacomprisesthree;

fingers 62 and mechanism for causing the three fingers to move in a suitable conveying path involving extension and retraction of the fingers through three slots 65 in the wall 5! at the hot- 5 tom of the accumulation receptacle. In the construction shown, the three fingers 62 are fulcrumed at'i-ntermediate points thereof .on a crank provided by a-crank shaft 56 and attheir inner ends are connected by individual links 61 to fixed brackets 63. The combined effect of moving the .-.fulcr.ums of the fingers in the circular orbits and of flexibily anchoring the inner ends of the fingels by the-links"- 6.1 is to cause the finger tips to move in-thermanner indicated by the dotted line l5- fi9' in- Figi 2.?Thus the fingers move upward through" the slots 65 in the material-supporting Wfill' 5|. towengage the material released by the upper conveyor means 2! and then the fingers moveforward into the path of the plunger head 16 at the receiving end of the baling chamber, whereupon th'eufingers drop below thematerialsupporting wall. 51 to= return to: theiriorward x positions for. again engaging the material.

""The arrangement for tying bales :Thev two "needles;23gjzwhich zare of nthezcuryed (configuration; shown; arey-keyedato a common isshaft. 1 ll if or ;movement: in :unison. I. :rThe knotter means 2 5 :With: whichitherrtwd anee'dles scooperate %:ma'y, be:.any; of thexwelleknowndevices: that are commercially. available: and need not... herde- :scribed. The: bale-tying;"mechanism.includes a cross shaft 1 it: to serve as. :common actuating means-for the two-needlesland therknotter." For this..:pur.pose a cranhllatteonetend; ofrthe cross shaft '5! is connected by'aalink liwithzone ofithe =-two.;.needles::23 :and a sprocket likeyed. torthe rirsameshaftxactuates;a;sprocketg,;chairi l t-for driv- :ing the :knotter..means1;25.; Thelcsprocketrchain mirlfizpasses aroundanidlerrsprocket ll-1 and'zaround a: ante-upper driven; sprocket:l8:;that isaoperatively connected with-.the wknotterz=25gz in ax,:suitable .fI-he means "for controlling the intermittent op- .eration of thetwo needlesland .the-knotter -is-:best shown in Figs. Aland 5.? Freely,- rotatabler on ,the rossshaft H is ai'drivenrrotaryrclutclrz member as} Bil. in r the: form; of argean meshing :with" one: of theipreviously mentioned gears tfi-tobe continuously actuated thereby. The driven clutch mem- :-.-.:ber".8il isl'half .thesdiameterofsthea-geantt; and, s-incei theegear; 35: carriesn-one of: the? crankjipins 35 for actuating, the plunger-head; l6,: athe:aclutch member. 8i) :willmakeionevcomplete, rotation durxnng. half arcycle ofeplungerheadroperation; It is contemplated that the plunger-ahead;-lfi-rwill reach itsrlovvermostrpo'sition oiwmaxirnum baling 'rz==pressure atrapproximatelythetmiddleof the;tying cycle represented by rotationofs-the ;clutch-mem- LbEI'Y 89,- suitable meanscbeing provided to; assure z such" synchronization as; will besexplained.

The driven clutch members-3.9 is ."hollowed out "1-: and formedwitha-an interior;clutch'shoulder 8! of zsl'oping-z .configurationrJKeyed to the. cross shaft H is a normally idle clutclrmemberxtfi carrying a\do'g:83:for releasableengagement with theslop- :5: Ling clutch: shoulder 31%;: ther dog being mounted on a pivot and being biased byia suitablerspring 111'? 86 towards an extended :position: across the cir- 7 cularpath of movement of the-clutch shoulder.

Normally the clutch member 82 is in .thenang-ular position shown in Figsfi with the dog 83 held in.itsretractedposition byan arm 81 of :a: suitable-:control or, tripsmeans, -the;...arm. pressing against a pint 3.4.;that extends laterally from; .the

5 dog. The arm 81 is part of a bell crank 88 which is biased by a spring 90, the strength of the spring 90 being sufficient to overcome the clutch Spring 86. The bell crank 88 is mounted on and keyed to a trip shaft 9!, the trip shaft also carrying a trip arm 93. It is apparent that tripping of the trip arm 93 will release the dog 83 for springactuated movement into position for engagement by the clutch shoulder 8| thereby to cause the shaft II to rotate with the driven clutch member 80. The sloping configuration of the clutch shoulder 8I minimizes the shock of engagement.

Since the clutch shoulder 8I will rotate past the normal position of the clutch dog 83 once while the plunger head I6 is in its upper range of reciprocating movement and once again while the plunger head is at its lower range of movement, and since the tying operation should occur only while the plunger head is at its lower range, we provide means to automatically keep the clutch dog retracted when the plunger head is in its upper range of movement. To this end, as best shown in Fig. 2, we provide a short arm 05 integral with one of the plunger head support arms 3| and connect this small arm by a link 90 with a lever 91 fulcrumed at 98. When the plunger head It is at its uppermost position, the lower end of the lever 91 is held against the pin 84 to hold the dog 83 retracted independentl of the arm 8! of the trip means. When the plunger head I approaches its lower limit position, the lever 01 is swung outwardly to permit the clutch dog to respond to actuation of the trip arm 93.

It is contemplated that the metering means 20 will actuate the described trip means whenever a predetermined quantity of compressed material accumulates within the baling chamber I5. The metering means 26 is in the form of a toothed disc or wheel extending upwardly through a slot in the bottom wall of the baling chamber for engagement by the compressed material moving progressively through the baling chamber. It is contemplated that the metering wheel will act periodically through a second clutch of the overrunning type to actuate the trip arm 03.

In our present arrangement, the metering wheel 26 is itself adapted to function as a driving clutch member and is therefore provided with suitable spaced engagement elements or clutch lugs I00. Preferably the lugs are releasably mounted on the metering wheel so that the number and spacing of the lugs may be varied whenever it is desired to vary the length of the finished bales. In the particular construction shown, the individual clutch lugs I00 have threaded portions that extend through suitable holes in the metering wheel and are engaged by retaining nuts MI. The metering wheel 26 is, of course, freely rotatable on the shaft 'II.

Adjacent the metering wheel 26 is a clutch member I02 which is also freely rotatable on the shaft H and which carries an engagement element or pawl I03 for engagement with the clutch lugs I00. The pawl I03 is mounted for swinging movement on a suitable pivot pin I05 and is urged by a suitable spring (not shown), attached adjacent to the other end of the pawl and positioned between the clutch member I02 and said pawl, into position for engagement with the clutch lugs I00; but, as a result of the position of pawl I03 with its lateral face angularly disposed or inclined to the plane of the metering wheel 26, as shown in Figure 5, pawl I03 rides over the clutch lugs when the clutch member I02 tends to travel faster than the metering wheel. The clutch movement of material through the baling chamher I5 eventually brings one of the cluth lugs I00 to bear against the end of the pawl I03, whereupon further rotation of the metering wheel acting through the clutch member I02 actuates the trip arm 03 to initiate an operating cycle of the bale-tying mechanism.

If the metering wheel 26 does not move sufficiently at this time to force the clutch member I02 free of the trip arm 93, the reset arm I08 included in the operation of the bale-tying mechanism will immediately contact the lateral lug I01 to force the clutch member free, whereupon the clutch member will gravitate to its lowermost position. The arm 93 may be held in release position by the pressure of the metering wheel 20, while such pressure may not be sufiicient to push shoulder I06 beyond the end of arm 93. However, due to the fact that the metering wheel is holding the clutch release mechanism open, the clutch dog 83 is free to engage shoulder BI and thus start the rotation of shaft II at the proper time. When shaft II commences to rotate, arm

I08 will then free the clutch member. The reset arm I03 soon contacts the lateral lug I0'I to continue the rotation of the clutch member I02 upward past center, whereupon the clutch member gravitates to its normal position with the radial lug I06 resting against the trip arm 93. At the end of the bale-tying cycle, the reset arm I00 comes to a stop at the position indicated in Fig. 5.

Actuation of the moving parts From the leading tractor, or other available source of power, a driving shaft I I0 leads to a transmission HI from which extends a lateral shaft H2 in a tubular housing II3, the lateral shaft carrying a sprocket H5 and a suitable fiywheel H0. A sprocket chain II'I connects the sprocket H5 with a larger sprocket gear II 8 on an upper countershaft I20. vKeyed to the countershaft I20 are two pinions I2I for driving the two crank gears 36, respectively, and also keyed to the shaft is a small sprocket I22 that drives a sprocket chain I23 to a sprocket I25. The sprocket I25 is keyed to the previously mentioned cross shaft 32 on which are pivotally mounted the two arms 3| for the plunger head I 0, the shaft 32 being free to rotate independently of the arms. Mounted on cross shaft 32 for actuation by the sprocket I25 is a second sprocket I26 from which a sprocket chain I21 leads downward to a sprocket I28 on the crank shaft 60 for actuating the conveying fingers 02. Finally a sprocket chain I30 passes around three sprockets, a sprocket I3I on the crankshaft 66, a sprocket I 32 for driving the pickup means 20 and an upper sprocket I33 for driving the upper conveyor means 2 I.

Operation The operation of the baler may be readily understood from the foregoing description. As

the device travels forward, the pick-up means 20 carries the material from the ground upward oven-the pick' up nose 52 =to-a point wherethe material may-be engaged by l the upper conveyor means 2 F101 fur-thermovement to the accumu lation zone "on the materialsuppor'ting wall 5 l Periodically the fingers 62 of the conveyor means '2 2 shift 'the accumulated "material-rearward into the pathot the-=plunger-head 1-6 at the' receiving -en d' of -the baling chamber 1 5; the actuating connections being such as --to time "the wearward movement I of the -JcQnVeyin'gfinge'rs with the upper or retracted-movement of the plunge'r head I 6; Perioizl-ically*the iplungerhe'ad descends to' foi ce' increments *of tne accumulated material into the *baling'chamber; the cutting blades 1'45 and severing material-- that would otherwise tend' to bind the plunger =he'adi The material thus forcediinto the 'forward'end of :the banner chamber is packed-sintoiia compact mass that progresse intermittently towards the "rear :end of'the -baling "chamber sand. intdoingeso intermittently advances the metering :wheel :26.

Periodically the metering wheel :Iinltiat'es a :baletying cycle in the .1 course 50f Which the :--need-les "23 move upward through Suit&b16 S10tS"-'| 35 in the upper and lowercwallstof the:baling.chamber and also through. itheacorresponding slotszllll :in. "the plungeriheadzand'then:retract;theknotterimeans 2 5 meanwhileztying lthefimshed balel In each: ofilthese ab ale-tying cycles, each I of the wardly through thebaling chamber with the'ruppertends :of "the two 'twinesaanchored. Thematerial =subs3equentlyrforced intothe baling chamber moves rearwardlyi against the :atwo downwardly hanging piec'es of twine'so' that 'atith'e beginning of T the next tying' cycle -a quantity of materialsuificient forfia lbale is engaged on three sides byi-thertwomieces of twinefi In'the' i11itla1 'partiof the succeeding?tying'rcyclefithe' two needles '23 carry the'twine upward-1y tocomplete the eucirclement' ofithefmateiial and' topermit the knotter means to complete the tying operation while the plunger head is substantially at its most advanced position. The'completed bales eventually "dropoutof the rear end of the baling chambe'r.

forming means, -a"-bale tylng mechanism, means 1 including a first normally disengaged clutch to "drive said bale-tying "mechanism through" one cycle of operation, rotatable' mete'ring means mounted for rotation about'a fixed'axis andurespon'sive'to movemento'f material by. said baleforming means, said metering means rotating in one direction only, and means including an overrunning second clutch mounted forirotationabout said fixed axis for operatively connecting said metering means with said first clutch ifor 1causing engagement ofthe' first clutch:

2. 111" a baler of the type 'described,- -.:a baleformingmeans, a bale-tying mechanism; means including a first normally disengaged 'clutch to drive said bale-tying-.mechanism through one cycle of operation, a metering means mounted for rotation about afiXed-aXis and-responsive to movement of material by said bale-forming means; 4 said metering means rotating: in- :one' 'di- 're'ction only, trip means op'eratively :conn'ecte'd e75 with"'the first clutch to causeen'gagementthereof ,---and'--rneans including an overrunning -seeond clutch for 'operati-v'ely connecting said metering means with said trip 'means for actuation of the trip means; -said secend clutc h "being-effective at spaced pointsin' the'rotation of said metering means, and said trip means and said clutches being aalso mounted -for rotation-about said" fixed axis.

351:1 a, -baler' o'f "the type: described, a shaleforming means; a bale-tying mechanism, metering. means mounted for'rotation about a 'fixed axis and responsive 'tdmovement of material by said bale forming means', said metering-means "rotatingin one: direction on'ly, "a plurality of 'engagement' elements movable with said meter-- ing 'means to constitute a part of *"an overrunnin clutch,- a, sing-la engagement element mounted for movement relative-t-osaid plurality of elements -'andcooperative therewith to constitute a cooperating part-"of theoverrunriing tlutch, said single engagement -leinent having a normal set position fromwhich it maybe moved by one of said pluralityrof elements, a normally disengaged clutch to drive said loale tyin'g 'mechanism" through one cycle of operation,- :saia normally disengaged cluteh- 'he'ing also mounted for rotation'about said fixed axis andbe'ing engageable'in responseto movement of'-sai'd-'=single engagement element out of said set positionpand automatic means torestore said' single *engagemerit element to its =se't'posi-tion,

4. In a bal'ei" of'the=-typedescribed, a baleiormin'g" means, a bale tyin'g me'chanism, means includin a fir'st= normally disngagedclutch to drive said bale tying meChan-ism' thiQugh one cycle of "operation, "a *metering 'means "mounted for rotation about-'afixed axis and -responsive to movement of mater-ialbysaid bale foi ming 'means, saidineteringmeans-rotating in" one direction only; 'trip'i'neans'tocause engagementof said clutch, a plurality of I engagement elements m'0Vab1e with said 'metening'nneans to con'stitutea part of an ove'rrunning clutch, a single' engagement I element I mounted for' -movement rel ative "to" said nlurality ofelements and ecooperative therewith to -constitute 'a cooperating :part of the overrunnin'g*clutch; 'said single engagement element being mounted foru'ota'tion about 'saidfix'ed'axis andflhavin'g a normal set-:pos'rtion from which it may lbe' moved byzon'eiof :said plurality of' elements '-for' actuation of lsalfl :tri'p means; and mea'ns" to restore. said-rsin'gle iIlgElfgment element to said setT-position automatically. 5. III a baler' of. 'the type'-'described;:i a "baleormin'g 'means', a :bale tyin'g: mechanismpimeans including afirst normallynisengaged clutch'to drive said uba1e=tying mechanismrithrou'gh 5 one cycle of operation, a metering vmeans irrounted for rotation about a 'fixed axisrand[responsive to movementhf 'material byi=said baleeforming means; said :me'terin'g: means Lrrotatinig" in ":oneidirectiorr only, and::nieans including :an: overrunning: second "clutch for operatively'i connecting said meterin means' wit'h said' first vclutch ."for causing:engagement16f the/first c1utch,i said overru'nning: clutch having a plurality of paced engagement elements 'anda single :comrilementary engagementelement:movableirelativetoisaid-fnlurality wherehwa predetermined?fraction "of a rotation of: :said: metering means will cause-engagement of 'theifirstt clutchg' saidssingle complemeni tary'engagementi-element being also: mountedztor "rotation about said fixed axis.

'i6.1 In1:a balen-zof' the wtypedescribed-=- a baleforming mechanism, a bale-tying mechanism, a metering means mounted for rotation about a fixed axis and responsive to movement of material by said bale-forming means, said metering means rotating in one direction only, a plurality of engagement elements movable with said metering means to constitute a part of an overrunning clutch, a rotary means carrying a single engagement element to cooperate with said plurality of elements to constitute another part of the overrunning clutch, said rotary means having a normal set position, a normally disengaged clutch to drive said bale-tying mechanism through one cycle of operation, said normally disengaged clutch bein mounted for rotation about said fixed axis and being engageable in response to movement of said rotary means out of said set position, and means responsive to engagement of said normally engaged clutch to restore said rotary means to said set position.

7. In a baler of the type described, a baleforming means, a bale-tying mechanism, means including a first normally disengaged clutch to drive said bale-tying mechanism through one cycle of operation, a rotary metering means mounted for rotation about a fixed axis and responsive to movement of material by said baleforming means, said metering means rotating in one direction only, trip means to cause engagement of said clutch, a rotatable operatin memher for actuating said trip means, said operating member being adapted to come to rest adjacent said trip means without actuating the trip means, an overrunning clutch for connecting said metering means with said operating member at at least one point in the rotation of the metering means thereby to actuate said trip means, and means to restore said operating means to its position of rest, said overrunning clutch being mounted for rotation about said fixed axis.

8. In a baler of the type described, a baleforming means, a bale-tying mechanism, means including a normally disengaged clutch to drive said bale-tying mechanism through one cycle of operation, clutch control means movable by tripping action from an ineffective position to an effective position to cause engagement of said clutch, said control means being biased to its ineffective position, a first rotary means rotating in one direction in response to movement of material by said bale-forming means, a second rotary means co-axial with said first rotary means, said second rotary means having an effective position for tripping said control means, said second rotary means being adapted to seek an ineffective position after tripping the control means, overrunning clutch means effective at selected spaced rotary positions of said first rotary means relative to said second rotary means to operatively interconnect the two rotary means for driving the second rotary means in response to the movement of said material, and means operated through said clutch to rotate said second rotary means from its ineffective position to its effective position in the latter part of said cycle of operation.

9. In a baler of the type described, a baleforming means, a shaft, a bale-tying mechanism operatively connected to the shaft, driving means including a first normally disengaged clutch mounted on said shaft, said driving means being constructed and arranged to drive said shaft through one revolution, a metering means mounted on the shaft and responsive to movement of material by said bale-forming means, said metering means rotating in one direction only, and means including an overrunning second clutch also mounted on said shaft for operatively connectin said metering means with said first clutch for causing engagement of the first clutch.

10. In a baler as described in claim 9, said metering means including a metering Wheel rotatively mounted on said shaft.

11. In a baler of the type described, a baleforming means, a bale-tying mechanism, means including a first normally disengaged clutch adapted to drive said bale-tying mechanism through one cycle of operation, a metering wheel mounted coaxially with said clutch, said metering wheel being responsive to movement of material by said bale-forming means, said metering wheel rotating in one direction only, and means including an overrunning second clutch for operatively connecting said metering wheel with said first clutch for causing engagement of the first clutch.

WILHELM VU'IZ. LEO H. BRUGGEMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 367,489 Wood Aug. 2, 1887 526,883 Wickey Oct. 2, 1894 1,027,868 Madsen May 28, 1912 1,205,980 Dudley Nov. 28, 1916 2,349,184 Martin May 16, 1944 2,384,584 Wildhaber Sept. 11, 1945 

